FORMER senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV on Friday said plans to file an ethics complaint against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa would proceed, citing the latter’s continued absence from Senate sessions despite government funds being allocated to his office.
In an interview, Trillanes said they were giving Dela Rosa a few more months before formally filing the complaint, in the hope that the senator would resume reporting for work.
“In the next few months, we will be filing an ethics case against him kasi tuloy-tuloy ’yong pagpondo ng gobyerno sa kaniyang opisina pero without any reason ay hindi siya pumapasok,” Trillanes said.
He added that continued absence without justification could already constitute dereliction of duty. “Binibigyan lang natin ng ilang buwan pa para lang—hopefully magbago isip niya—pumasok. Otherwise, dereliction of duty ito,” he said.
Trillanes also sent a message to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, urging him to focus more on locating individuals being sought by authorities, including Dela Rosa.
“Bawas-bawasan siguro ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla ’yong kaniyang pagpe-presscon at mas matutukan niya ang paghahanap,” Trillanes said, noting that several high-profile individuals remain at large.
He cited the cases of suspended Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag, former official Ricardo Leonardo, Dela Rosa, and businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang, adding that authorities have yet to account for their whereabouts.
Trillanes said in December 2025 that he was prepared to file an ethics complaint against Dela Rosa, who began skipping Senate sessions after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant of arrest against him.
